Undoubtedly, Shopify is one of the eCommerce leaders on which it is possible to launch an online store. Even though Shopify is the best option, it's nothing wrong to opt for other choices. There are many alternatives for Shopify that are cheaper, user friendly and sometimes free. We will discuss ten of the most relevant free and commercial software, their prices, advantages and disadvantages.
Before getting into the alternatives, there is an important thing you should consider, and that is OPTIMIZATION.
Why Should You Optimize Your Ecommerce Site?
Imagine if you are going to an ecommerce store that is not recognised by people. Do you trust and buy products from them? Probably not. So, here is where you should optimise your ecommerce site.
- Increases your site visibility: By optimising, you can boost your website traffic. Through this, you will get more sales.
- A smooth experience: No one likes a slow website. A fast and smoothly loading website has a higher chance of retaining the customers.
- Improves trust: A shop with no website will never gain visitors. If you have an optimised website, it builds trust and improves your sales .
So, we spoke about why to optimize. Now, let's see how to optimize your e-commerce website. You can optimize your e-commerce site by speeding it up, making it mobile-friendly, and improving your SEO. Use high-quality images with personalised recommendations. Also, improve the social media engagement and track your performance.
WooCommerce
WooCommerce is a free and highly customizable eCommerce platform that easily integrates with WordPress. While the core software is free, you will need to invest in a domain, hosting, and SSL certificate to get your store up and running. Hosting costs typically start at around ₹300 to ₹400 per month, depending on the provider and the features you choose. Additionally, you may need premium themes or extensions for advanced functionalities, but overall, WooCommerce remains a cost-effective solution for businesses of all sizes.
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Pros
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Cons
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Completely customizable and open-source.
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Requires some technical knowledge to set up and manage.
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Easily integrates with WordPress.
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Additional costs for hosting and premium features.
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Large library of free and paid extensions.
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Performance depends on your hosting provider.
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Ideal for SEO-friendly eCommerce websites.
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Magento
Magento is a powerful, free, and open-source eCommerce platform known for its flexibility and scalability. While the software itself is free to use, setting up a Magento store requires additional resources such as hosting, domain registration, and development expertise. It is best suited for businesses looking for a feature-rich solution with advanced customization options, making it ideal for growing and enterprise-level online stores. However, due to its complexity, it may require technical knowledge or professional assistance for setup and management.
Pricing
- Basic plan - ₹2,000 to ₹5,000 per month
- Premium plan - ₹5,000 to ₹10,000 per month
- Cloud Magento e-commerce hosting (Up to 15,000 monthly) for managed cloud hosting Managed cloud Magento e-commerce web hosting - Up to 15,000 monthly .
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Pros
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Cons
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Highly scalable for enterprise-level businesses.
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Easy learning curve for beginners.
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Strong features for large product catalogs.
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High development and hosting costs for premium versions.
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Advanced security and performance optimization tools.
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Suitable for small or medium-sized stores.
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Laravel
Laravel is a flexible and open-source framework that’s perfect for building eCommerce websites. It offers a clean structure, strong security, and a rich ecosystem, making it a go-to choice for developers. With Laravel, businesses can create custom online stores that provide smooth shopping experiences, easy order management, and easy integration with payment gateways and other tools. However, to keep your store running efficiently, you’ll need the right development setup and reliable hosting to ensure speed, security, and performance.
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Pros
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Cons
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Fully customizable for developers.
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Not beginner-friendly; requires coding expertise.
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Secure and scalable for growing businesses.
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Longer development time compared to other platforms.
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Modern framework with active community support.
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Limited out-of-the-box ecommerce functionality.
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BigCommerce
BigCommerce is popular with businesses looking for an eCommerce platform that is both flexible and scalable. It takes a position as a worthy alternative to other platforms such as Shopify since it comes with four plans tailored to different business needs. This platform thus allows you to build, customize, and grow your online store with ease, whether you are starting or are already established. With in-built SEO, multi-channel selling, and integrated support for businesses, this platform easily provides a smooth shopping experience without complicated development.
Pricing
- Standard - ₹3,380 per month
- Plus - ₹9000 per month
- Pro - ₹34500 per month
- Enterprises - Custom
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Pros
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Cons
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No transaction fees, even for third-party gateways
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Limited design customization compared to WooCommerce or Magento.
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Built-in SEO tools and multi-channel selling.
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High monthly fees for premium plans.
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Scales well for growing businesses.
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Annual revenue limits for each plan.
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Squarespace
SquareSpace makes hosting a professional website easy even without coding experience. Offered with a 14-day free trial, the site allows exploring its drag-and-drop editor, gorgeously designed templates, and built-in blogging, eCommerce, and SEO tools. Whether you're creating a portfolio, an online store, or a business site, SquareSpace offers everything you need to design a beautifully-looking and seamlessly working website.
Pricing
- Personal - ₹2,163 per month
- Business - ₹3,115 per month
- Commerce (Basic) - ₹3,461 per month
- Commerce (Advanced) - ₹6,230 per month
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Pros
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Cons
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Stunning design templates for visually appealing stores
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Limited flexibility for complex stores.
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Easy-to-use interface for beginners.
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Fewer integrations and extensions compared to other platforms.
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Includes hosting and SSL certificates.
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Transaction fees on lower-tier plans.
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Wix eCommerce
Wix ECommerce offers a 14-day trial period, giving you full access to its eCommerce platform so you can explore its features and see if it meets your business needs. You can experiment with design tools, set up products, and test the overall functionality without any commitment. This trial allows you to experience how the platform handles real-world scenarios, helping you make an informed decision. Once the trial ends, you have the flexibility to choose the best path forward based on your experience.
Pricing
- Light - ₹199 per month
- Core - ₹1399 per month
- Business - ₹799 per month
- Business Elite - ₹1,599 per month
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Pros
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Cons
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Intuitive drag-and-drop website builder.
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Limited scalability for large businesses.
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Includes hosting and domain options.
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Transaction fees apply to some payment methods.
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AI-powered tools for quick store creation.
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Fewer advanced features compared to WooCommerce or Magento.
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PrestaShop
PrestaShop is an open-source eCommerce platform that anyone can download and use free of charge. It's flexible and customizable for businesses looking to set up an online store. The core software is free, but users are at liberty to adapt their stores with their own designs, features, and integrations. With its active community and widespread marketplace, PrestaShop will enable businesses to create a fully functional, professional online store that fits their brand.
Pricing
- Domain - ₹865 to ₹1,297 per year
- SSL & TLS - ₹432 to 86,530 (On-demand).
- Server - ₹432 to ₹4,32,652
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Pros
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Cons
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Open-source with no subscription fees.
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Can be challenging for non-technical users.
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Extensive library of modules and themes.
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Paid modules can add up quickly.
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Suitable for small and medium businesses.
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Requires manual updates and maintenance.
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Shift4Shop
Shift4Shop is the best option for a newcomer in eCommerce. The service is free with a variety of themes that require no coding skills and have built-in SEO tools for easy customization. Great for beginners!
For anyone in need of more, Shift4Shop has a premium plan at ₹19,815/month ($299), packed with advanced features, integrations, and priority support-best for growing your business. Pronouncedly, it comes with powerful marketing tools and automation for easy sales increases. Small-scale start or big plan; the roots in Shift4Shop could take you places.
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Pros
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Cons
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Free plan with no monthly fees if using their payment processor.
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Limited design flexibility compared to competitors.
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Built-in SEO and marketing tools.
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Customer support can be inconsistent.
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Includes unlimited products and bandwidth.
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Higher fees for using external payment gateways.
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OpenCart
OpenCart provides a free 7-day trial to utilize its features without any risks. And besides, one can install open-source on their own server for free, enabling them to have full control over their stores without any initial fee.
Then, it would be time to choose a **premium plan** with more features and support after the trial is over. OpenCart offers three premium plans designed to help businesses of various sizes grow and operate their online stores efficiently.
Pricing
- Bronze - ₹5,105 per month
- Silver - ₹8,566 per month
- Gold - ₹17,219 per month
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Pros
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Cons
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Lightweight and fast platform.
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Basic features may require additional paid extensions.
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Free to use with a simple setup process.
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Less advanced functionality compared to Magento or BigCommerce.
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Large marketplace for extensions.
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Limited official customer support.
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Ecwid
Ecwid is a good alternative to Shopify. It is one of the very few Shopify alternatives that offer a free plan like WordPress, which is nice for small businesses just starting to get into it. It allows for the quick establishment of stores with integration to your website and no upfront costs for selling.
Three premium plans with advanced payment options, automated marketing, and multi-channel selling are available for even greater features. Whether just starting out or in expansion mode, it is flexible and friendly on the budget.
Pricing
- Venture - ₹2,163 per month
- Business - ₹3,893 per month
- Unlimited - ₹9,085 per month
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Pros
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Cons
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Free plan available for beginners.
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Limited customization options.
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Easy to merge with existing websites.
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Higher-tier plans are necessary for advanced features.
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Multi-channel selling (social media, marketplaces, etc.).
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Smaller app ecosystem compared to WooCommerce or Shopify.
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Drop Shipping with Shopify (Alternatives)
Dropshipping is that branch of retailing where sellers list products online without holding any inventory. When customers place orders, sellers procure the items from a third-party supplier, who then ships directly to the customer. This type of business gives the seller a chance to operate an online store with minimal capital investments and no need to ever handle any storage. Some of the alternatives are given below,
- WooCommerce
- BigCommerce
- SquareSpace
- Magento
5 Best Drop Shipping Suppliers for Shopify
Here are the 5 best suppliers for Shopify Drop Shipping.
AliExpress
Category
- General products (electronics, fashion, home goods, etc.).
Features
- Low-cost products.
- Direct integration with WooCommerce and Shopify.
- Worldwide shipping options.
CJ Drop Shipping
Category
- General products and print-on-demand items.
Features
- Warehousing in multiple countries.
- Faster shipping than AliExpress.
- Easy integration with WooCommerce.
Spocket
Category
- Premium products (apparel, accessories, and home goods).
Features
- High-quality products from US/EU suppliers.
- Real-time inventory updates.
- One-click integration with major platforms.
Modalyst
Category
- Fashion, beauty, and lifestyle products.
Features
- Access to independent brands and eco-friendly suppliers.
- Integration with Shopify and Wix.
- Automated order processing.
Printful
Category
- Print-on-demand products (t-shirts, mugs, posters, etc.).
Features
- Customizable product designs.
- No minimum order requirements.
- Integrates seamlessly with major eCommerce platforms.
Conclusion
All the above options are listed among the top 10 Shopify alternatives for 2025. The decision will depend on your own business needs, budget, the level of personalization required, flexibility. Also, please do not forget to fully investigate each of these choices in order to identify which is best suited to your desire for a web platform.
At Rasonix, we will assist you on this journey. Our experienced staff are on-hand to help you set up a new e-commerce website or to transfer away from Shopify with one-on-one advice and support to take your online business to the next level.
Are you ready to boost your e-commerce store? Reach out today and make your dream a reality!
FAQs:
Is there a better alternative to Shopify?
Yes. WooCommerce is considered as the best platform and it is completely free to use
Who is Shopify’s biggest competitor?
Some of the biggest competitors are WooCommerce, Laravel, and Magento.
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